Anti-inflammatory mechanism of dieting and fasting revealed
Science Daily February 16, 2015

Quote:

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that a compound produced by the body when dieting or fasting can block a part of the immune system involved in several inflammatory disorders such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. In their study, published in the Feb. 16 online issue of Nature Medicine, the researchers described how the compound β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) directly inhibits NLRP3, which is part of a complex set of proteins called the inflammasome. The inflammasome drives the inflammatory response in several disorders including autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, and autoinflammatory disorders. "These findings are important because endogenous metabolites like BHB that block the NLRP3 inflammasome could be relevant against many inflammatory diseases, including those where there are mutations in the NLRP3 genes," said Vishwa Deep Dixit, professor in the Section of Comparative Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. BHB is a metabolite produced by the body in response to fasting, high-intensity exercise, caloric restriction, or consumption of the low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Dixit said it is well known that fasting and calorie restriction reduces inflammation in the body, but it was unclear how immune cells adapt to reduced availability of glucose and if they can respond to metabolites produced from fat oxidation. Working with mice and human immune cells, Dixit and colleagues focused on how macrophages -- specialized immune cells that produce inflammation -- respond when exposed to ketone bodies and whether that impacts the inflammasone complex. The team introduced BHB to mouse models of inflammatory diseases caused by NLP3. They found that this reduced inflammation, and that inflammation was also reduced when the mice were given a ketogenic diet, which elevates the levels of BHB in the bloodstream. "Our results suggest that the endogenous metabolites like BHB that are produced during low-carb dieting, fasting, or high-intensity exercise can lower the NLRP3 inflammasome," said Dixit.

Pfizer introduces "Cure-all" a synthetic form of Beta-hydroxy butyrate...

BHB are ketones, right? LOL! Are they the ones we excrete in urine, or the ones found only in blood. Research topic for lunchtime I guess.

Pharma doesn't want to miss that LCHFKD gravy train. Hey, why do something naturally through a WOE when you can do it with a pill? That way, no one has to give up donuts!

I can totally believe that eating less of the SAD, or abstaining from it entirely, has beneficial effects...

Nancy - BHB isn't the one measured in your urine.

I suspect it may have to do with epigenetics. Gene expressions that can change in response to specific diet or stress conditions such as fasting or VLC for long enough periods.

ep·i·ge·net·ics/ˌepəjəˈnediks/noun
the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

Here is the study the article is based on.

That might not be a completely bad idea. There have been some lab rat cancer studies showing that increased BHB in the blood helps against cancer proliferation even in the presence of high glucose levels. So taking in extra ketones might help those who will not or cannot curb their carb eating.




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